Abstract

PADILLA-DOCAL, Bárbara et al. Neuroimmunological response in children with meningoencephalitis by Neisseria meningitidis. Vaccimonitor [online]. 2011, vol.20, n.1, pp. 8-12. ISSN 1025-0298.

Meningococcal disease is a clinical entity that remains as health world problem. It mostly affects children population producing gravity, a severe evolution, and a high quantity of deaths and sequels. Neisseria meningitidis is the etiological agent. The mucosa membranes of human nasopharynx are its natural habitat. This paper aims at establishing and determining the characteristics of the neuroimmunological response in children suffering from meningoencephalitis caused by Neiseria meningitidis. Twenty children with this diagnosis from 1998 and 2009 were studied. Cerebrospinal fluid lumbar puncture and blood extraction were performed. Samples were collected at the time of admission of the children to the hospital. IgA, IgG, IgM, C3c and albumin were quantified. A reibergram was done according to the data obtained in the quantification. Blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier dysfunction was present in 6 of studied patients and there was intrathecal synthesis of major immunoglobulins and C3c in 65 and 95% respectively. The occurrence of intrathecal synthesis of at least 2 types of major immunoglobulins associated to C3c was demonstrated, which participate in the mechanisms involved in the immune response in this disease.

Keywords : Blood-CSF barrier dysfunction; complement; C3c; cerebrospinal fluid; Neisseria meningitidis; reibergram.

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